Our Opinion: Style over substance not cutting it for Rauner anymore

Republican candidate for governor Bruce Rauner is scheduled to be in Springfield today for a fundraiser at the Hilton Springfield.

Rauner has rejected yet another invitation to meet with The State Journal-Register’s editorial board to introduce himself to the newspaper — and by extension to the community at large — and perhaps enlighten voters here about his plans for Illinois.

He also declined repeated invitations to visit The State Journal-Register during the primary election. His three GOP opponents met with the board, and so did Gov. Pat Quinn.

Campaign spokeswoman Leili Doerr, contacted last week, said Rauner would not have time this stop and promised vaguely — after being pressed — that, “We will circle back with you when we will be back in the area.”

Many of the officials lending their name to Rauner’s campaign know this newspaper and have met with its editorial board to explain policy decisions or initiatives. The conversations are always professional, insightful and educational.

Perhaps some of them would be willing to pass along to Rauner today that his ongoing dismissal of Illinois’ capital city newspaper is troubling. Voters here and elsewhere are interested in what he has to say and how he handles himself as a candidate.

It is crucial, particularly in this time of historic fiscal turmoil in Illinois, that our readers are able to learn where Rauner stands on a variety of murky issues. His political rhetoric and meaningless platitudes have run their course.

In an interview Wednesday with southern Illinois’ WSIL-TV after visiting a Chester factory, Rauner insisted his unwillingness to get into the nitty-gritty with voters is OK because the election is still five months away.

“People say, ‘Well we want (your plan) today. Well you know what? We’ve got five months until the election, and our plan is going to be crystal clear long before the election,” Rauner said.

Actually, this first-time candidate with many yet-to-be-defined positions has been promising more complete explanations for months. Illinoisans, including thousands of state employees in Springfield, are entitled to know how exactly he intends to “shake up” the capital city.

Our message for Rauner: Running for governor of Illinois is not a game of hide-and-seek.